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    dermatology

    Erysipelas (adjunctive care with antibiotics)

    Also known as: erysipelas, st Anthony's fire, infection of skin with fever

    Erysipelas is a bacterial skin infection with sharply defined hot red skin, often on the face or legs, with fever — it needs antibiotics promptly. Chinese medicine complements the antibiotics with heat-toxin clearing, damp-heat draining and stasis transformation, supporting faster settlement.

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    Lifestyle & Diet

    • •Antibiotics come first — complete the course fully.
    • •Elevate the affected leg during recovery.
    • •Treat athlete's foot and cracked skin — they invite recurrences.
    • •Recurrent episodes need medical review of underlying causes.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    See sources
    • •Never needle over infected skin — distant points only.[]
    • •Blood-moving herbs only after the infection has cleared.[]

    When to reassess or seek care again

    See sources

    Review at 1–2 weeks with the GP: fever, skin colour, wound sites. Recurrences need vascular or skin review.

    Explore more diseases

    Achilles tendinopathy (adjunctive care)Acid reflux (GERD)Acne vulgarisAcute bronchitisAcute cystitisAcute gastritisAcute lumbar sprainAcute otitis media

    Sources & Further Reading

    Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.

    1. Cellulitis — NHS
      NHS · 2024
    2. Cellulitis — MedlinePlus
      National Library of Medicine · 2024
    3. Cellulitis — Healthdirect
      Healthdirect Australia · 2024

    Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.